Auto Racing

June 17, 1987|By Ken Paskman

TOGETHER AGAIN. Several NASCAR Winston Cup racing teams have undergone major personnel changes, highlighted by Jeff Hammond's decision to leave Junior Johnson's racing team to rejoin driver Darrell Waltrip at Hendrick Motorsports. Hammond, 30, was Waltrip's crew chief when Waltrip raced for Johnson. Between 1982 and 1986, the Hammond/Waltrip combination won two NASCAR Winston Cup titles and 31 races for the team owned by Johnson. Hammond takes over for Waddell Wilson, who remains with the team as engine builder and team manager. Waltrip, Wilson and car owner Rick Hendrick formed a team last fall that immediately was called ''The Dream Team'' because of the impressive talent in the operation. The Dream Team has become a nightmare, with Waltrip's best finish a fifth place in the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. With Hammond's departure, Johnson named Tim Brewer as the crew chief for his team, whose cars are being driven by Terry Labonte.